Autoblog

Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Chrysler

A coming hatchback said to be called the Chrysler 100 has been caught on video traipsing around Santa Monica by Autoblog reader Zach Dillman. Still wearing the scrapyard assemblage of Alfa Romeo Giulietta body panels as it was when spy photographers began capturing it last summer, its arrival date is still a question mark: some outlets have reported that it will go on sale this year, others have said it won't be in showrooms until 2016.

In fact, quite a few questions remain. Based on Fiat's Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform that supports the Dodge Dart and expected to be about the same size, the 100 is thought to be a small premium hatchback that will be priced above the Dart and below the Chrysler 200, with the idea that it can challenge the Ford Focus and Hyunda Elantra at the value end and the Buick Verano and Acura ILX at the premium end. Word is that there will be no sedan version.

It looks like there'll be plenty of gewgaws inside, with buttons for Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and a button to toggle the traction control.

Some rumors say the 100 will only get four-cylinder engines, other rumors suggest it could get a V6 to justify the premium aspirations and the price bump over the Dart, and an "E85 Only!" sticker spotted in one of the mules last summer has other rumormongers wondering if it will get a ethanol-capable version of a new powerplant that isn't the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. It looks like there will be paddleshifters for getting through the gears, and front-wheel drive is the easy bet, all-wheel drive the long-shot shocker.

At the end of the video, a second mule gets spotted in Santa Monica, this being one of a legion of jacked-up Franken-Giulietta mules that's been seen around the country for a while now. It could be either a new Jeep Liberty mule or a replacement for the Compass/Patriot. See for yourself in the videos below.

Continue reading Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica

Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler 200 successor to boast 38 mpg, 9-speed automatic

Zach Bowman — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the next-generation Chrysler 200 will show off a host of improvements, including a fuel economy rating of 38 miles per gallon on the highway. That's a jump of seven mpg over the current model, and much of that efficiency can be chalked up to a new nine-speed automatic transmission. Expect to see the revised 200 show up on dealer lots in the first quarter of 2014. The news came courtesy of a dealer meeting in Las Vegas, where Chrysler unveiled upwards of six new vehicles set to arrive within the next year and a half.

Chrysler reportedly also showed off its subcompact 100, said to be based on the Dodge Dart. Other vehicles shown at the dealer sit-down included a four-door version of the Fiat 500, the replacement for the Jeep Liberty and a new small Jeep as well. Both dealers and the manufacturer are keeping the rest of their secrets to themselves at the moment. Stay tuned.

Chrysler 200 successor to boast 38 mpg, 9-speed automatic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Biggest Rebate Ever? Maybach buyers to get $100,000 spiff

Zach Bowman — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Etc., Europe, Maybach, Luxury

Our sister site, AOL Autos, just dug up one of the largest rebates we've ever seen on a new car. If, for some reason, you must have a Maybach before the brand ceases production altogether, you may in line to snag a tidy $100,000 rebate. Daimler previously let slip that the company will kill the ultra-luxury brand in 2013 and replace it with a new high-end Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman. Given that Maybach models never exactly jumped off of the showroom floor, we're guessing the German automaker needs all the help it can get moving the Type 57 and Type 62.

Even with $100,000 off the sticker price, you'll still need a suitcase full of C notes to take one of these machines home. The entry-level Type 57 commands a $376,300 MSRP while the Type 62 starts at $427,700. Even at those prices, reports suggest the the company lost a staggering $500,000 on each and every model it sold. It's a wonder the marque stayed around as long as it did.

Biggest Rebate Ever? Maybach buyers to get $100,000 spiff originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler planning Dodge Avenger successor after all?

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo

Don't cry for the Dodge Avenger just yet. According to USA Today, Chrysler is set to introduce new midsized sedans to replace both the Chrysler 200 and the much-maligned Dodge Avenger. The vehicles will be built on a version of the same platform that underpins the 2013 Dodge Dart. That news runs contrary to word that the Avenger is headed to the great scrap pile in the sky after the current generation runs its course. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking to shore up the company's small car efforts and spread the cost of platform development across as many models as possible.

Marchionne also made mention of introducing a new hybrid hatchback under the Chrysler 100 nameplate, though details are scarce at the moment.

USA Today reports the same platform may be used for the next-generation Jeep Liberty and Compass, which are slated to debut sometime in 2013. Marchionne says both vehicles will be trail-rated and capable of standing up to the kind of abuse Jeep buyers demand. Even so, the CEO says the vehicles will have their "origins in the architecture of a sports car."

Speaking of sports cars, Marchionne also made it clear Alfa Romeo is still coming to the States, though the Italian brand's strategy has shifted somewhat. The models headed to the U.S. market will be lightweight and powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine offering 300 horsepower. Certainly sounds good to us.

Chrysler planning Dodge Avenger successor after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels world record jump at Indy 500 starting to take shape

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 22 May 2011 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Off-Road

The ramp designed to propel Hot Wheels' mystery driver to world record glory at the 100th Indianapolis 500 is starting to take shape. The ramp doesn't look quite like it did in Hot Wheels' original rendering, but it's still an enormous and terrifying structure. Don't believe us? Check out a full gallery of the ramp on the speedway's Flickr page.

Hot Wheels' goal is to propel a winged off-road truck 302 feet through the air, which would clinch the world record for distance. The death-defying stunt will kick off the excitement at next weekend's Indy 500.

Hot Wheels world record jump at Indy 500 starting to take shape originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to offer 100,000 test drives as part of Fiesta Movement

Chris Shunk — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

Euro spec Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is pulling out all of the marketing stops with its Ford Fiesta. The Blue Oval has already given 100 lucky Fiesta Movement contest winners a free six month lease of a Euro spec Fiesta, including free gas and some interesting Ford-sponsored excursions. That's not nearly enough customer interaction for the Dearborn automaker, however, as evidenced by its desire to log 100,000 test drives before the North American spec Fiesta hits the market.

Ford is traveling to 100 cities in total, with five teams of five Euro spec Fiestas permeating all parts of the USA. Ford will also offer free wireless Internet at the drive sites, giving test drivers the ability to blog about their Fiesta experience in real-time. And Ford won't simply show up in big cities like LA and Chicago, as some rural locations are being planned. Ford also plans to show up unannounced at high traffic areas like amusement parks and college campuses.

Hit the jump to read the official Ford press release.

Gallery: Ford Fiesta in NYC

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford to offer 100,000 test drives as part of Fiesta Movement

Ford to offer 100,000 test drives as part of Fiesta Movement originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti celebrates 100 years with four Centenaire specials at Villa d'Este

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Supercars, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

Bugatti Veyron Centenaire editions - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Although decades have separated the modern Bugatti from its heritage, the Alsatian exotic marque is one that prides itself on its racing pedigree. So to bridge that gap and celebrate its 100th anniversary, Bugatti rolled in to the Villa d'Este auto show on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, as promised, with a quartet of special edition Veyrons.

Each of the four one-offs bares a different color to contrast with the chrome fenders, and each honors a different driver from Bugatti's glory days by taking their names. To more clearly emphasize the cars historical linkages, the four Veyrons arrived in Italy accompanied by matching historic Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix racers.

One of the most successful race cars in history, the Type 35 racked up some 2,000 race victories over the course of a decade of competition in the inter-war period. Thanks to its advanced lightweight construction and pioneering client-racer availability, the Type 35 was one of the most popular and indomitable racing machines of its day. Alongside its identically-colored historic counterpart, the Bugatti Veyron Jean-Pierre Wimille edition appeared in bright blue, the Achille Varzi in dark red, the Malcolm Campbell example in dark green and the Hermann zu Leiningen in off-white. No official word so far if these specials will be for sale or if they'll remain at Bugatti's headquarters in Molsheim, but if they do find their way to market, you can expect them to be marketed at a considerable premium.

The presentation at Villa d'Este is the second of many celebrations which Bugatti has lined up to celebrate its centenary this year, following the Bleu Centenaire edition presented at the Geneva show and ahead of Pebble Beach in August and the grand finale in Molsheim on September 12. So stay tuned, but in the meantime, check out the high-res images in the gallery below and the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Centenaire editions at Villa d'Este

[Source: Bugatti]

Continue reading Bugatti celebrates 100 years with four Centenaire specials at Villa d'Este

Bugatti celebrates 100 years with four Centenaire specials at Villa d'Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crude oil plummets to below $100/barrel

Michael Harley — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc.

The price of crude oil dropped below $100-a-barrel yesterday (its lowest level since February) as the slowing economy -- bringing with it a reduced demand for oil -- raised concerns. Interestingly enough, the drop in crude didn't affect the price of gasoline as it rose 16 cents per gallon due to refinery closures from Hurricane Ike. The storm only caused moderate damage to oil platforms, but more than a dozen Texas and Louisiana refineries were shut down or idled ahead of the storm. It was just July when crude oil prices peaked at just over $145 per barrel, and gas prices neared $5 in many parts of the country. The high cost of fuel over the summer stymied drivers, who cut back on consumption forcing the price of oil to slowly retreat. Analysts who predicted doom ($200-a-barrel by the end of the year) are now scaling back their forecasts, and some have even predicted crude may eventually drop to $70-a-barrel. While we obviously welcome any drop in the price of crude, it's the volatility -- the sharp fluctuations as a result of market conditions -- that we would also like to see addressed.

[Source: New York Times, Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty]

Crude oil plummets to below $100/barrel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Maserati unveils special Quattroporte "Collezione Cento"

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Maserati

click images to view in high-res

The Maserati Quattroporte is without a doubt one of our favorite sports sedans, exuding the kind of exotic Italian craftsmanship usually reserved for supercars and two-door GTs. But with a facelift around the corner, the Trident marque has been keeping the sensuous sedan fresh with ever more desirable editions.

The latest is the Quattroporte Collezione Cento, unveiled here at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. If you have a grasp of any romance language, you'll have guessed that the Collezione Cento is limited to a 100 examples, each individually numbered. It features a special ivory tint with a beautiful quilted Cuoio dark tan leather interior, and comes equipped with the company's multimedia entertainment system, a keyboard built in to the rear center armrest, iPod and USB connectivity, web access and DVDs displayed on twin 10.4" touch-screens mounted in the front seatbacks.

We have a selection of live shots from the show floor as well as the press shots in the gallery below, and the official press release can be read after the jump.

[Source: Maserati]

Gallery: Maserati Quattroporte "Collezione Cento"

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Maserati unveils special Quattroporte "Collezione Cento"

Detroit 2008: Maserati unveils special Quattroporte "Collezione Cento" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Pirelli P Zero rated for 230 mph

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:07:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

There are lots of ways to crank more power out of an engine -- bore it out, bolt-on superchargers, turbochargers, intercoolers -- if you're reading Autoblog, you know the drill. Putting that power down on the road is another story altogether, though. No matter how advanced the technology in the car, it all has to meet the tarmac the same way it has for over a century. Pirelli is celebrating 100 years in motorsports, and to commemorate the anniversary it has unveiled the newest version of its flagship high-performance tire, the P Zero.

Affectionately referred to as P Zero the Hero, the latest version of the vulcanized performance icon is rated for speeds up to 370 km/h (230 mph). That's a mighty high top end that few cars can reach, and even fewer drivers will ever hit, but in speed ratings you don't want to be pushing the limits of adhesion at the risk of both car and driver.

The latest Pirelli P Zero is already being fitted to some of the best-performing cars on the road. It's standard equipment on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Murciélago and Gallardo, Audi R8 and S8, Aston Martin DB9, Maserati Quattroporte, Jaguar XK, the upcoming Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and an array of high-performance models from Mercedes AMG, Porsche and BMW. Sure, other manufacturers make high-performance tires. But there's only one P Zero.

[Source: Gizmag]

Latest Pirelli P Zero rated for 230 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:17:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce is set to take the wraps off a new convertible at the Detroit Motor Show less than two weeks from now, and have leaked a few photos to get our Spirits of Ecstasy flying. Although the name is not yet officially known, most insiders predict a revival of the Corniche nameplate for this grand cabriolet that picks up where the show-stopping 100EX concept car left off in 2004.

As can be seen from the press photos, some of the highly unique features from the show car have made it into the pre-production version. One of the most intriguing is the classic speedboat-style teak boot-lid under which the power soft-top will stow. The sinister LED headlights have also carried through, as has the stunning brushed-aluminum hood section (as unlikely as it was predicted that it would make it to production). The suicide doors are also there, granting elegant access to the world-class cabin with what looks like ample room, front and back. The trunk also has a unique split opening, one section folding down like a tailgate and another up like a conventional trunk lid.

Aside from the images, which you can check out after the jump, no details were released, but we can reasonably expect it will carry the 6.75-liter V12 and six-speed auto-box from its sister saloon the Phantom.

[Source: Rolls-Royce via AutoWeek.nl]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet

Detroit Preview: Rolls-Royce cabriolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macpherson struts her stuff: Elle gets a Fiat Panda

Noah Joseph — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows

We just love it when cars and models collide (figuratively, not literally... that'd be tragic). It's convergence at its finest. Like Jodie Kidd who races Maseratis, supermodel Elle Macpherson also loves Italian cars, albeit slightly smaller ones. Elle became the first owner of the new Fiat Panda 100HP when the new suped-up ultra-teeny-tiny-supermini made its British debut at the MPH '06 show this past Thursday.

While 100 horsepower may not sound like much, considering the Panda's Lilliputian dimensions, it's nothing to sneeze at (especially among the car's asthmatic competition). The Panda is a little over three-and-a-half meters long, one-and-a-half meters each wide and tall, and weights less than one ton, so 100 horses are all it takes to get it to sixty in 9.5 seconds. It tops out at 115 mph while returning 43.4 mpg on the combined cycle. Fiat's Abarth performance division also gave the Panda 100HP disc brakes all around (vented up front) , as well as an upgraded suspension, with some visual enhancements to go with the extra performance kit.

We just wish this cute model were available and in the US. (The Panda too, for that matter.)

[Source: Fiat UK]

Macpherson struts her stuff: Elle gets a Fiat Panda originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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